Author: elsims

Here we are in our second week of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Awareness Month. As I stated in my last post, Novellia with The Skoop, I will be highlighting websites, podcasts, newsletters and other resources for people living with MS. Today I am ecstatic to feature one of my favorite MS Warriors, Samantha Salvaggio (Vanderman). Samantha and I have stayed in touch since she was a guest blogger last March. She is doing wonderful things for the MS community and I knew I had to share it with my readers. I invited Samantha on a Zoom call so we could discuss what’s new with her and what she has planned for the future. Watch our Zoom call at this link,

https://www.youtube.com/supported_browsers?next_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DoJat1g-BAR0&feature=youtu.be

I seriously don’t like how YouTube always stops the video at the worst moment. I look crazy 😆.  Oh and I don’t know how to edit, so… Anyways, Samantha has been very active in spreading her message with the world. You will be able to find links to other publications and podcasts Samantha has collaborated with on her website, samanthasalvaggio.com. In the About tab on her webpage, just click on Collabs. You can also sign up for her weekly newsletter on the website. Follow Samantha on all her social media pages to keep up with this incredible human being and her future endeavors.

IG: @slsalvaggio

Facebook: Samantha Vanderman Salvaggio

TikTok: slsalvaggio

I am so thankful and grateful for Samantha. She comes through everytime I reach out to her. Samantha is also a true Warrior that shines her light bright for all to see. If you haven’t read her previous posts from last year’s MS Awareness Month, please go back and read them. Hopefully, Samantha and I will have more collabs in the future 😉. If this blog post, or any other previous posts, has resonates with you, please share it with someone else. Someone who you feel may benefit or enjoy this content. It would be greatly appreciated. Let’s help spread Samantha’s message to “Become Aware. Accept It. Adapt. Thrive.” Stay well and whole. Much Love 🧡 💚

 

I have done nothing but asked question after question of you this year. I’m so nosy 😆. Truth is, these are the questions I have been asking myself. I felt that if I needed to get to the bottom of things, I couldn’t be the only one. Based on conversations I have been having with people, I’m not. Which led me to present these questions to you. In this Vivyd Magazine article, my question is, “What are you going to do differently?”

https://vivydmagazine.com/articles/f/what-are-you-going-to-do-differently

I realize that I am anti-social and I play small. Okay, I have known I was anti-social majority of my life. I have also known that I play small. I am a really private person and I like my peace. I guess what I actually realized is, I cannot step into my greatness being this version of myself. I want to be known, yet I don’t socialize and stay in the background. I want people to know my message of self-love and acceptance, but I don’t talk about it outside of my blog or articles. What am I going to do differently? Honestly, I don’t have the particulars worked out at this point. I will start with opening up my social media pages and updating my old ass pictures 😆. From there, I will post on my pages. I know these adjustments may sound minor to you, but to my ultra private ass, they are major.

So after reading the article, is there anything that you need to do differently? If you are happy with your life and you are in a great place, congratulations, no action needed. For the rest of us, what’s the plan? What steps can you take today to get started? Feel free to comment down below or send an email with the changes you plan to make. I’m rooting for you! Stay well and whole. Much Love 🧡 💚

To kick off Women’s History Month, I would like to highlight one of my namesakes, Ebony Fashion Fair along with Fashion Fair cosmetics created and previously owned by John H. Johnson and Eunice W. Johnson. The Johnsons were a husband and wife team who owned Johnson Publishing and started Ebony and Jet magazines for people of color. I remembering seeing the pictures for Ebony Fashion Fair in Jet Magazine growing up. And the pink containers of Fashion Fair make-up in my mom’s bathroom. Most of the information I will be sharing in this post comes from The Beauty of Blackness documentary streaming now on HBO Max as well as the articles, whose links I have included in this post. The documentary covers the past history of Fashion Fair cosmetics, its acquisition, and its relaunch.

Ebony Fashion Fair was a fashion show started in 1958 by Mrs. Johnson. The fashion show was the first to feature black models wearing clothes from designers such as Givechy, Ungaro, and Coco Chanel. Ebony Fashion Fair traveled around the country via charter bus for 3 month stretches at a time. The fashion show would visit cities and states where black people continued to face overt racism and discrimination. Yet, the models and organizers persevered and brought black elegance, grace, and fashion throughout the country. For more information on Ebony Fashion Fair, you can visit this website.

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/reliving-ebony-fashion-fair-runway-one-couture-dress-time-180962987/

Mrs. Johnson observed the models having to mix and match make-up to create a shade of foundation that suited their complexions. This discovery inspired the creation of Fashion Fair cosmetics in 1973, a line of make-up that catered to women of color. The cosmetic line was carried in Bloomingdale’s thanks to Audrey Smaltz, the first commentator for Ebony Fashion Fair shows, who had a connection from previously being employed at the department store. From that point, Fashion Fair cosmetics expanded to other leading department stores.

Unfortunately, Johnson Publishing, which housed Ebony Fashion Fair and Fashion Fair cosmetics, filed bankruptcy in 2019 shutting down Fashion Fair cosmetics. Desiree Rogers and Cheryl Mayberry McKissack swooped in, purchased and revived the cosmetic line. The co-founders partnered with Sephora and relaunched Fashion Fair cosmetics in September 2021. The packaging has a new look and the products have been reformulated and are now vegan. You can find the sleek white and gold make-up tubes and palettes at Sephora, Sephora.com, and FashionFair.com. Tap this link to read what inspired Rogers and Mayberry McKissack to aquire Fashion Fair cosmetics.

https://www.instyle.com/beauty/makeup/fashion-fair-relaunch-interview

I just happened upon the documentary, The Beauty of Blackness, today and I throughly enjoyed it. Seeing the behind the scenes development of the relaunch and the history of such an iconic brand was inspiring. I am and will probably always be a plain Jane who doesn’t bother much with make-up. Yet, I still wish much success for Fashion Fair cosmetics. If this blog post, or any other previous posts, has resonates with you, please share it with someone else. Someone who you feel may benefit or enjoy this content. It would be greatly appreciated. Be well and whole. Much Love 🧡 💚